201112http://journal.waocp.org/article_26943_0481f16e14a1013205bcc3956e035ee0.pdfPrevention of Cancer and Non-Communicable Diseasestextarticle2011engCancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately 7.6 million deaths (13% of alldeaths) in 2008. Cancer mortality is projected to increase to 11 million deaths in 2030, with the majority occurringin regions of the world with the least capacity to respond. However, cancer is not only a personal, societal andeconomic burden but also a potential societal opportunity in the context of functional life – the years gainedthrough effective prevention and treatment, and strategies to enhance survivorship. The United Nations GeneralAssembly Special Session in 2011 has served to focus attention on key aspects of cancer prevention and control.Firstly, cancer is largely preventable, by feasible means. Secondly, cancer is one of a number of chronic, noncommunicablediseases that share common risk factors whose prevention and control would benefit a majorityof the world’s population. Thirdly, a proportion of cancers can be attributed to infectious, communicable causalfactors (e.g., HPV, HBV, H.pylori, parasites, flukes) and that strategies to control the burden of infectious diseaseshave relevance to the control of cancer. Fourthly, that the natural history of non-communicable diseases, includingcancer, from primary prevention through diagnosis, treatment and care, is underwritten by the impact of social,economic and environmental determinants of health (e.g., poverty, illiteracy, gender inequality, social isolation,stigma, socio-economic status). Session 1 of the 4th International Cancer Control Congress (ICCC-4) focusedon the social, economic and environmental, as well as biological and behavioural, modifiers of the risk of cancerthrough one plenary presentation and four interactive workshop discussions. The workshop sessions concerned 1)the Global Adult Tobacco Survey and social determinants of tobacco use in high burden low- and middle-incomecountries; 2) the role of diet, including alcohol, and physical activity in modifying the risk of cancer and othernon-communicable diseases; 3) the role of infections in modifying the risk of cancer; and 4) the public policiesand actions that can be implemented to effectively reduce the risk of cancer at population levels. Workshopdiscussions highlighted the need for high quality data on the prevalence of modifiable factors in different settings,as well as the social, economic and environmental drivers of these factors, in order to inform prevention andcontrol programs. For some factors, further work needs to be done to develop simple and valid measurementtools. Given that many of these factors are common to both cancer and other non-communicable diseases, cancerprevention should be viewed within the broader perspective of the prevention of non-communicable diseases andshould engage all relevant actors, including the general public, health and other professionals, workplaces andinstitutions, the media, civil society, schools, governments, industry, and multinational bodies. Many policies andplans have been implemented in various settings to control the drivers of modifiable factors and promote healthand well-being. Mapping, analysis, and contextualization of those policies that are relevant would be helpful topromote action around cancer prevention in different settings.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer PreventionWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP)1513-73681

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2011311http://journal.waocp.org/article_26944_05ffebd1bbd1b5d5f4ad2c005c5f1a4f.pdfManaging Population Health to Prevent and Detect Cancer and Non-Communicable Diseasestextarticle2011engThe goals of cancer control strategies are generally uniform across all constituencies and are to reduce cancerincidence, reduce cancer mortality, and improve quality of life for those affected by cancer. A well-constructedstrategy will ensure that all of its elements can ultimately be connected to one of these goals. When a cancer controlstrategy is being implemented, it is essential to map progress towards these goals; without mapping progress, itis impossible to assess which components of the strategy require more attention or resources and which are nothaving the desired effect and need to be re-evaluated. In order to monitor and evaluate these strategies, systemsneed to be put in place to collect data and the appropriate indicators of performance need to be identified.Session 2 of the 4th International Cancer Control Congress (ICCC-4) focused on how to manage populationhealth to prevent and detect cancers and non-communicable diseases through two plenary presentations andfour interactive workshop discussions: 1) registries, measurement, and management in cancer control; 2) useof information for planning and evaluating screening and early detection programs; 3) alternative models forpromoting community health, integrated care and illness management; and 4) control of non-communicablediseases. Workshop discussions highlighted that population based cancer registries are fundamental tounderstanding the cancer burden within a country. However, many countries in Africa, Asia, and South/Central America do not have them in place. A new global initiative is underway, which brings together severalinternational agencies, and aims to establish six IARC regional registration resource centres over the next fiveyears. These will provide training, support, infrastructure and advocacy to local networks of cancer registries,and, it is hoped, improve the host countries’ ability to assess and act on cancer issues within their jurisdictions.Multiple methods of programme evaluation were presented across workshops, but all were attuned to both theresource base and the specific questions to be addressed. Where innovative strategies were being tested, customizedevaluation strategies should be undertaken. Where programmes are well-developed and data is being collected forevaluation, there is the opportunity for sophisticated analytical methods to be used to pinpoint specific areas ordelivery sites for future quality improvement. Finally, unique opportunities now exist to integrate the strategiesdeveloped in cancer control and evaluation with those under development for other non-communicable diseases.This area will likely be one for future development.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer PreventionWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP)1513-73681

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20111322http://journal.waocp.org/article_26945_9276b3f8c063a9f7810002b82e651683.pdfCoordinating Care and Treatment for Cancer Patientstextarticle2011engSurvival following a diagnosis of cancer is contingent upon an interplay of factors, some non-modifiable (e.g.,age, sex, genetics) and some modifiable (e.g., volitional choices) but the majority determined by circumstance(personal, social, health system context and capacity, and health policy). Accordingly, mortality and survival ratesvary considerably as a function of geography, opportunity, wealth and development. Quality of life is impactedsimilarly, such that aspects of care related to coordination and integration of care across primary, communityand specialist environments; symptom control, palliative and end-of-life care for those who will die of cancer;and survivorship challenges for those who will survive cancer, differs greatly across low, middle and high-incomeresource settings. Session 3 of the 4th International Cancer Control Congress (ICCC-4) focused on cancer careand treatment through three plenary presentations and five interactive workshop discussions: 1) establishing,implementing, operating and sustaining the capacity for quality cancer care; 2) the role of primary, community,and specialist care in cancer care and treatment; 3) the economics of affordable and sustainable cancer care; 4)issues around symptom control, support, and palliative/end-of-life care; and 5) issues around survivorship. Anumber of recommendations were proposed relating to capacity-building (standards and guidelines, protocols,new technologies and training and deployment) for safe, appropriate evidence-informed care; mapping andanalysis of variations in primary, community and specialist care across countries with identification of modelsfor effective, integrated clinical practice; the importance of considering the introduction, or expansion, ofevidence-supported clinical practices from the perspectives of health economic impact, the value for healthresources expended, and sustainability; capacity-building for palliative, end-of-life care and symptom controland integration of these services into national cancer control plans; the need for public education to reduce thefear and stigma associated with cancer so that patients are better able to make informed decisions regardingfollow-up care and treatment; and the need to recognize the challenges and needs of survivors, their increasingnumber, the necessity to integrate survivorship into cancer control plans and the economic and societal value offunctional survival after cancer. Discussions highlighted that coordinated care and treatment for cancer patients isboth a ‘systems’ challenge and solution, requiring the consideration of patient and family circumstances, societalvalues and priorities, the functioning of the health system (access, capacity, resources, etc.) and the importanceassigned to health and illness management within public policy.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer PreventionWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP)1513-73681

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20112326http://journal.waocp.org/article_26946_bd862246c3f3baa7aa614c70ff30861b.pdfKnowledge Exchange -Translating Research into Practice and Policytextarticle2011engSubstantial differences in population-based cancer control outcomes exist within and between nations.Optimal outcomes derive from ‘what we know’, ‘what we apply in practice’, and ‘how complete and compliantis the population uptake of public health and clinical practice change’. This continuum of research (scientificdiscovery) to practice (application and uptake) to policy impacts the speed and completeness of practice changeand is greatly influenced by the ability, opportunity and readiness of countries to implement evidence informedpractices and policies through innovative change. Session 4 of the 4th International Cancer Control Congressfocused on knowledge exchange through three plenary presentations and five interactive workshop discussions:1) the role of epidemiological data as a basis for policy formulation; 2) existing global frameworks for cancercontrol; 3) knowledge exchange as it relates to public health practice and policy; 4) knowledge exchange inrelation to primary, community, and specialist cancer care; and 5) the role of public engagement and advocacy ininfluencing cancer control policy. Common themes emerging from workshop discussions included the recognitionof the importance of knowledge exchange processes, constituents and forums as key aspects of preparedness,awareness and readiness to implement public health and clinical practice change. The importance of culturaland contextual differences between nations was identified as a challenge requiring development of tools forgenerating relevant population/societal data (e.g., projection methodologies applied to population demographics,outcomes and resources, both societal, human and fiscal) and capacity building for facilitating knowledgetransfer and exchange between the constituencies engaged in population-based public health practice andclinically based primary care and disease specialty practice exchange (researchers, health practitioners, healthadministrators, politicians, patients and families, and the private and public sectors). Understanding patient andpublic engagement advocacy and its role in influencing health and public policy investment priorities emergedas a critical and fundamental aspect of successful implementation of evidence-informed cancer control change.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer PreventionWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP)1513-73681